NK Chats To…Leon Mitchell

Hi Leon, thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell me about your book, Felicity Fire: And The Forever Key and what inspired it? 

Growing up I enjoyed getting lost in classic fiction like “The Never Ending Story” and “The Chronicles of Narnia” I was able to lose myself, use my imagination without boundaries and be inspired creativity. As an author, I wanted to create a new modern novel with current and relevant characters, but infused with a sense of nostalgia and magic from my childhood. I wanted to share that sense of wonder with a new audience where they feel like they are the main character in the book.

What are the challenges when writing a book in this genre and for a younger audience? What are the most important aspects to consider?

For me, I write with no fear and I generally don’t follow any kind of industry blueprint. I often tap into childhood memories and try to put myself back in that frame of mind and look at the world from that viewpoint. Children have the wonderful ability to be innocent in the world, and stories don’t have to make perfect sense. When i’m in that space I can normally create new ideas and let them flow. I think not trying to be perfect is important and it’s ok to be brave in your writing. Professionally the most important factors for me are to just keep going, keep writing, even if it’s a little bit each day.

What’s your typical writing day like? Do you have any rituals like needing coffee? Silence? What do you do to stay motivated?

I am very disciplined with my creativity. I believe a lot of this comes from my time serving in the British Army, where my grit and determination was pushed out of my comfort zone. Many of the qualities I developed in that chapter of my life still stay with me today. So I have the ability to simply just keep going and keep writing.

I do like writing in creative spaces, with a good coffee too!

What’s your route to publication and what advice do you have for someone considering a similar path? 

I feel I’m in a unique position that works well for me. I was able to transfer a lot of skills from my film career into the publishing world as an author too. There are a lot of similarities with making TV or films as there is taking a book to shelves. Before I started releasing books as an author, I had already been around them a lot within the entertainment industry, so I knew how it worked. I also took the time to learn both major and independent pathways with book publishing.

A lot of authors spend their time chasing agents and publishers, that wasn’t for me. I wanted to build my own body of work and I’ve never chased anyone. I love to collaborate, but I like to be in the drivers seat. For me at this time, unless it’s a major publisher that was interested to work with me, I can pretty much do everything myself with my own team. Advice I would give is finish the book, it won’t be any good sitting on a hard drive for years.

If you were creating a playlist for this book, which songs would you pick? 

I would dive into the 80’s with some synth retro waves, I love the 80’s and it has a special place within me.

If you had the chance to teleport into any fictional world, where would you go and why? 

I could choose so many, that’s a tough one. Maybe Pandora and become an Avatar. Or does Game of Thrones count, I love that show.

What’s your favourite word and why? 

I like words related to “Fire” I use this within poetry too. Words like Embers, Burning, light and sparks. I often use them when describing emotions and feelings of passion.

What are you currently working on? 

My next book is called “The Last Empress” it’s something new from me. I’m diving back in time into England in the early 800’s, but this book has a twist, the rule is dominated more by woman. So watch this space.

In your opinion, what are the most common mistakes writers make when starting out? 

They simply give up too soon and don’t have the discipline to keep going, or a plan. A lot of people have an idea, start writing, then realise just how incredibly challenging it is a few pages in. To write a 300 page novel that is entertaining, cohesive and has purpose is not for the faint hearted.

How do you approach the planning/research and editing processes and what advice do you have? 

I’m not traditional, most of the writing I do I simply make it up in the moment and run with it, rather than research it. It’s just me thinking of ideas, then shaping them into stories. Quite often I have no idea how the ending will be, as I develop as I go along. This works for me as I don’t like to have any boundaries or restrictions. Some people spend a long time with notes, development plans, for me that takes the fun out of it.

I do like to develop good characters, and I always know what the over riding purpose of the book is. But the detail I like to wake up and just let my imagination free to write what I want without rules. I have a close friend who is also a writer, Peter Darne’s. We send each other messages back and forth, we laugh a lot and quite often my books are developed from those conversations.

Would you rather? 

BAFTA Connect

Have unlimited books or have £1,000,000? 

I would take both and donate the money lol.

Be able to fly or be invisible? 

Invisible so I can cause mischief!

Live in the city or the country? 

Country all day long, I would rather live in a cave or a tree than the city.

Live in an eternal spring, summer, autumn, or winter? 

Eternal Autumn, nice temperature, blue sky, crispy leaves, fresh air.

Be able to read minds or control things with your mind? 

Read minds, so I know all your secrets lol

Have the ability to spend one day in the future or visit one day in the past? 

Future, I would like to see how things work out for humanity in a thousand years.

See the movie or read the book first? 

Read the first book.

Have magical powers here on earth or live in a magical place without powers?

Magical powers here on earth, so I can turn it into a magical place.